Costumes

Costumes are crucial to any production. They can be sewn from scratch, bought on the high street, or made by altering other clothes. In the National Theatre's Costume Department, a staff of designers, dyers, tailors and buyers work together to produce outfits for every character in every show.

Medea's Dress: Making Blood and Mud

Dyer and Textile Artist Rosie Maccurrach demonstrates the dyeing of Medea’s bloodied and mud-stained dress, worn by Helen McCrory in the final scenes of the 2014 production of Medea.

06-09
04:45

Costume in The Light Princess: King Ignacia

See how Designer Rae Smith's costume concepts are turned into beautiful finished pieces in the National Theatre costume workshop. This short film follows the process of creating the beautiful military dress coat worn by Hal Fowler as King Ignacio, from initial sketches to the full detail of the finished piece.

04-02
05:49

Costume in The Light Princess: Althea

Go into the National Theatre's costume workshop and fitting room to show how a dress, worn by Rosalie Craig as Althea in The Light Princess, was designed and created for the stage. We learn how Designer Rae Smith's period inspirations are turned into a finished garment by Head Ladies' Cutter Sarah Mercer, finally seeing the detail of the dress close-up.

04-01
06:57

Acting with the bear costume

Danny Sapani (Actor) talks about the costume for Iorek Byrnison, a polar bear, in 'His Dark Materials' and working with the Costume Designer.

11-27
02:40

Costume design in His Dark Materials

Jon Morrell talks about the process for designing costumes for 'His Dark Materials', from his initial inspirations through to development and the final outfits.

11-27
03:11

18th century costumes for She Stoops to Conquer

Olivier nominated designer Mark Thompson talks about his designs for the gorgeous 18th century costumes in Jamie Lloyd's production of She Stoops to Conquer at the National Theatre. The film features David Fynn and Cush Jumbo talking about getting into their costumes and into character before the start of a show.

04-19
03:57

Dressing Emily

Emily Taaffe is dressed in her costume for Daphne in Nation.

11-14
01:23

Skirt alterations

A shirt is altered after the first fitting.

11-14
01:52

Drafting a pattern

How a pattern is drafted from a book.

11-03
00:56

Adding sleeves to a woman's jacket

Watch a seamstress add sleeves to a woman's jacket.

11-03
01:31

Rae Smith on designing costumes

Her approach to designing costumes for a show

05-09
01:38

Costume props

Jewellery, millinery or armour.

05-05
00:53

Costume department - overview

An overview of the costume department

05-03
01:02

Buying costumes from vintage shops

Finding costumes at vintage markets

05-03
01:20

Buying costumes on the high street

Contemporary costume designs require high street shopping

05-03
00:50

Costume bibles

The ‘bible’ contains designs, fabrics, trimming, photographs, and measurements

05-03
01:05

Costume buying - overview

The work of the costume buyer at the National Theatre

05-03
00:55

Costume designers' initial designs

Working on the costume designer's lead

05-03
01:47

Costume realism and detail

The importance of realism and detail in designing costumes

05-03
00:59

Workflow from design to fitting

Presenting the team in the costume workroom

05-03
00:52

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